Albums
January: 18 albums you need to hear this month
That's the month sorted then
Sleigh Bells 'Jessica Rabbit' (TORN CLEAN/LUCKY NUMBER)
Sleigh Bells’ fourth album comes on like an uncontrollably wild house party where you just know the speakers are going to blow out. Lyricist and singer Alexis Krauss’s powerhouse vocal is even more prominent now, while Derek Miller’s relentless guitar onslaughts on tracks such as ‘Hyper Dark’ and ‘Loyal For’ are particularly sinister. ‘Rule Number One’ is a manic anthem full of headbanging and ‘Treats’-era no-bullshit lyricism, while ‘It’s Just Us Now’, which is built on hip hop beats and ruthless riffs, challenges the notion of what ‘pop’ music can be. Energetic, endearing and still unlike anybody else, Sleigh Bells continue to unapolegtically pummel your senses. Ben Jolley
8/10
Ronika 'Lose My Cool' (RecordShop)
Combining the best bits of the 80s, 90s and our current musical era, Ronika’s second album is a seductive genre-bending collection. ‘Dissolve’ and ‘Never My Love’ are sensual and R&B-flavoured, ‘Make Your Move’ is full of Chic disco vibes and ‘Trying to See in the Dark’ boasts a stadium-sized, guitar-led chorus. Elsewhere, on the addictive ‘All Comes Back 2 U’ and ‘Better Than Ever’ (which steps into Mariah Carey territory), the 90s pop influence shines through. The electronic production of ‘Trouble’ is bang up to date, though, while lead single ‘Principle’ and the soulful title track are potential chart hits. Infectious and groove-laden, ‘Lose My Cool’ manages to be both forward-thinking and vintage at the same time. Ben Jolley
8/10
